to live godly, agreeable t0 known Truths, to ſerve God ſoberly and prudently (with due moderation) in our places conſonanrly to the meature of the Rule God hath diftributed to Us, 2 C7. 10. £2. holding the Truths wherein we agree 1n love, unity and conſtancy. It being more reaſonable that the many "Truths wherein we agree, ſhould cauſe us to join in love which is A Chriſtian duty; rather than the few Opinions wherein we dil- 2srce ſhould cauſe a breach in affection, which 1s an humane in- Srmity«
17 Brethren, be followers together of me f, and mark them « which walk ſo, as *. ye have us h tor an enſample :.
{ He doth here not only propound his own fingle example to the Brethren at Philippi, as he doth to others elſewhere, L Core 4s 16. : ri imitati | :prefſed, viz. as he and others implying the hmitation there CxPpr » VR were followers of God and Chriſt, 1 Cor. 11. I. Eph. 5. 1. 1 Theff. 1.6. & 2. 14. but by a word expreſſing joint conſent, he would have them to be Fellow-imitators or Fellow-followers of him and others in what he had exhorted them to, yea with one heart. 0 they would be like other Churches (which he had planted, that had an-eye upon his example.) g Whom he would have them ac- curatcly to obſerve, following their Faith, and conſidering the end of their Converſation, Aeb. 13. 7. h Agrecing with his, and Timotky's (who joined with him in this Epiſtle) and others, n oppoſition to thoſe who were cauſal of diviſion, Rom. 16. 17» I Cor. 1. 12. even ſuch as he deſcribes, v. 18, 19. i Who did not lord it over Cod's heritage, but were enſamples (in Faith, Love and Humility ro the Flock, 2 Cor. 1. 24. 1 Tims. 4. 12. Tits 2+ 77 8. i Pet. 5+ Je
18 (For many walk &, of whom I have told you often /, and now tell you even weeping m, that they are the enemies of the croſs of Chrilt z.
t He doth as in Parentheſts according to our Bibles, alledge rea- ſons for his propoſals. © 1. There were not a few who did at pre- fent walk otherwiſe, being eyil workers, verſe 2. not to be imr tated or followed, Mar. 7. 22. 23. 1 (Of which as a faithful Watchman he had again and again given them warning. # And now alſo by this preſent Writing out, pf great compaſhon to their immortal Souls, he did repeat it again with tears in his eyes.) 72 2. They were ſuch who did in the pgexeral (whatever they might under a fair ſhew pretend) oppoſe the Goſpel of Chriſt, yea did in effe& under the cloak of profeſſion, that which was in a ten- dency to evert the true Chriſtian Dottrin, Diſcipline and Holineſs. They did go about to mingle the Law and the Goſpel, to join Moſes with Chrift for Juſtification, as verſe 4, &c, Gal. 2. 21. and ſo undervalue redemption from the curſe, Gal. 3. 13. & 5. 2, 4. in ſpecial theſe Epicureans (as ſhould ſeem they were by the following chara&ter, rather than real Chriſtians) might rightly be called Enemies, becauſe they did ſeem by their ſenſuality to reſtore the Kingdom to thoſe whom Chrift had on his Croſs open- ly ſpoil'd of it, Cl. 2. 15. that they might gratifie the Fews in urging the neceſſity of Circumcilion, ſo undermining the virtue and. merit of Chriſt's Paſhon, detaming the end of it, as the Fews did him in it, and in times of Tryal avoid Perſecution, Gal. 6. 12, 14. they ſhewed themſelves by interpretation really to be Enemies to Chriſt crucified, x Cor. 1. 23, 24+ & 2. 2.
19 Whoſe end :s deſtruction o, whoſe God 75 their belly p, and * whoſe glory 7s in their ſhome q, who mind earthly things 7.)
0 (3.) Their condition will at laſt be miſerable as he had limit- ed above, chap. 1. 28. of their being under the diſmal token of perdition, their end will be according to their works, 2 Cor. 11. 15. However, they may live delicately at preſent, in gratifying their ſenſual appetites, be free from perlecution, admired and reſpetted by many, and pleaſe themſelves in their preſent courſe, yet their fruit and wages at the laft caſt will be dreadful, Kom. 6. 21, 23. Gal. 6. $. Rev. 18. $. and 19, 20, 21. þp The great buſineſs of theſe is, their ſenſuality, their good eating and drinking, they mand the plealing of their carnal appetite, as if it were their God, 2 Pet. 2. 13, 18. & 2. 3. inftead of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, really they ſerve their own Belly, Rom. 16, 18. love their Pleaſures in- deed more than God, 2 7im. 3. 4. q Yea, they boaſt of thoſe things whereof they ought to be aſhamed, thinking it reputation they have got many to imitate them, Fohn 5. 44. & 12. 43. They are puffed up with that which ſhould rather make them to bluſh, 1 Cor.5.2, as being attended at laſt with confuſion. r How- ever, under the colour of Chriſtianity, they at preſent are taken up in the purſuit of their ſenſual and earthly enjoyments. The Greek word comprehends the actions and operations of the mind, will and afteftions, importing, they did inordinately mind, favour and reliſh ſublunary accommodations, Rom. S. 5. the profits, eaſe, bounty, pleaſure and glory of this World, preferring them in their hearts to the things of Chriſt.
20 For our converſation is in heaven /, from whence alſo we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jeſus er.
f He here adds a further reafon why he would have them to be Fellow-followers of him, and ſuch like as he, becauſe though they were not already in Heaven, yet their Citizenſhip was there, the Privileges of that City did belong to them, who according to the Municipal Laws of that Corporation (which cannot loſe its Charter or be diſcorporated) whereof they were free Denizens, made it their Bufinels ro demean themlelves with minds above the Farth, chap. 1. 27. 2 Cor. 4. 18. Fph. 2. 6. Col. 3. 1. accounting nothing inconvenient to any one of them, which was for the advantage of the whole community, Foka 1. 42+ 2 Cor. 12. 2. Heb. 13. 14. they ſet their affections on things above, t And rea-
PHILIPPIANS
ſon good, for from thence or from that place, in the
Heaven, AS 1. Il. 1Cor, 1.7. 1 Theſſon. _—_ 2 Tom, ovens, or 13. they ftedfaſtly expe@ him who is both Lord and Chr: "y % come, not only as their Judge, 2 7im. 4. $, but as their Sens, to forting Saviour, Heb. 9. 28. __
2: Who ſhall change our vile « body, that it m; be faſhioned like unto his glorious body w, accordi, to the working whereby he is able even to ſubdue all things to himſelf ».